Volcán Cotopaxi

Volcán Cotopaxi

Last thing to check off my list for things to do in Andean Ecuador: camping in Parque Nacional Cotopaxi.  Cotopaxi is the 2nd highest active volcano in South America.  It is covered in snow and breathtaking.  The total trip cost me $4.75....camped and hitched rides in.  Absolutely no one was there, and it felt like a surreal dream world with the volcano, wild horses, lakes, rolling clouds, the empty spaces.....hard to describe but maybe some pictures will help.  enjoy family and friends, because I know I sure did. 

Our picnic of avocado and chifles.  and rum?

morning clouds rolling.  freezing but beautiful

waiting out the rain in our surprisingly warm tent...i bought it primarily for the beach, so the fact that it survived the wind and rain at the base of the 2nd highest altitude volcano in South America, gives me confidence!

wild horses

high iron content spring near the lake (i think)

lake and volcano

hitching home

disfrutando los ultimos dias del Ecuador

 welp counting down my last days here in Ecuador.  I have about 3 weeks or so of teaching left here in Quito, then I am getting things all organized so that I can take of to Colombia for a short trip (about 2-3 weeks).  After that its back here then straight to Chile.  More on that move later.  for now, here are some of my final amazing sights from Quito!

Stovetop in my home in Guapulo....the most beautiful and oldest barrio in Quito

only problem with Guapulo is that its not the easiest to get out of.........hence hitching rides pretty much daily

mmmmm llapinachos

awesome food market in a town called Lataguna.  its great because its huge and as of yet undiscovered by ANY tourists.  Me encanta

every or any part of the pig

delicious legumbres

hungry baby munchin

the hostel/home of the indengous family who knows me fairly well by now.  it isnt very common to return to the very very small and isolated town of Quilatoa twice

and...........i'm back for more of the beautiful Lago

young indegenous children herding sheep on the hills of an extinct volcano lake.  every thing i suppose

we hiked around the rim (6 hour hike) this time instead of going down to the water.  breathtaking

dinner of flaming tuna and beer in our freezing cabin.  oh and a bouquet of sorts as well :)

i love love love his look

Galapagos Part II

Galapagos Part I